In February, iPrep adopted a new online standards mastery resource called Penda Learning. Based on the latest brain research and differentiated instruction and learning strategies, Penda is designed to authentically engage students, allowing them to create avatars and choose friends thus facilitating an emotional connection to their learning.

(PressZoom) - June 28, 2012 – Miami-Dade Superintendent Albert Carvalho’s brainchild project – iPrep Academy – has scored top in the Florida state end-of-course exams (EOC) using online learning. iPrep’s students have blown away the Florida state average with 100% of its 9th grade students passing the end of year exam in Biology and Geometry.

Out of 822 state schools that took the Biology EOC and the Geometry EOC, only five received 100% on both EOC exams.Â iPrep, a school designed to fit the technologically savvy students of the 21st century, was one of those five schools.

How did iPrep do it? In February, iPrep adopted a new online standards mastery resource called Penda Learning.Â Based on the latest brain research and differentiated instruction and learning strategies, Penda is designed to authentically engage students, allowing them to create avatars and choose friends thus facilitating an emotional connection to their learning.Â

“Penda enhanced my biology curriculum by adding excitement, building confidence in all learners, and being a great way to review standards in a non-traditional format,” said iPrep Science Teacher Thomas Gantt. “Penda’s tasks challenged and excited all learners, especially reluctant learners who had trouble completing assignments.Â Our EOC tests results indicated a 100% passing rate with 91% of all students in the top tier.Â We are a public school serving a majority of minority student groups in an urban setting and Penda was also great for students whose native language is not English.”

"I really think Penda helped me because I learn more from my mistakes and Penda gave me multiple attempts to get it right and I remember it better," remarked a student after the Biology EOC test. Although the student was an average performer in biology, she ended up scoring in the top 10%.

iPrep is the brainchild of Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, the fourth-largest school district in the U.S., and the principal of the school.

About Penda

Penda is an online science and math resource for grades 4-10 that uses avatars and competition to authentically engage students as they work through standards aligned activities. Launched first in the UK, a decade of evidence shows that students that use Penda master standards and make substantial gains on science and math state tests and end of course exams. Penda is based on the latest brain research that shows that it is vital for students to form an emotional connection with their learning. For teachers, automated reporting makes it easy to differentiate instruction, monitor progress and drive results. Penda is aligned to specific state standards and Common Core Learning Standards. For more information, call 800-481-8101 or visit us at www.pendalearning.com.

This news item was released on 2012-06-28. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for more information.